Railway-traffic-controlling apparatus



Nov. 18, 1930. H. A. THOMPSON RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS- Filed June 26, 1928 INVENTORZ H. Pr. 7 bomp n, 7 @R-W H p UNITEDS ATE Patented Nov. .1 1930 .Howeian'nf rnomrsoim; or nnenwconisonooerr, mmsn a a nssroivon 'rofjrnia 'Umoiv swrron & 'sIGivnL ooivrranY; or WISSV AL E,UEENQ'SYLVANIA, 3A conronns I a RA WA RAE w M IIKG BPeB fi Application nia Jame; 192s. ser a n 288;.336.

' 'My invention relates torailway'traliic conbodying my invention,ian.d, will then point trolling apparatus, and particularly to apparatus of the type wherein periodically interrupted currentin thetraclr-rails is used for the control of trainagoverningmechanism,

The present invention relates specifically to the trackway portion ofcsuchapparatus,

and has for an object .the provision of means for preventing false indications due tdthe traingoverning current in the event of broken down insulated'rail joints f 1 I will describe one, form ,of' apparatus emout the novel features thereofin claims. The accompanying-drawing is a. diagrammatic view showing one form of apparatus embodying my, invention. Y i j Referring to the draw ing, the reference relay which is responsive to, reversals ofthe" relative polarity of-the current supplied thereto from the track. rails. Each. track relay is .designated by: the reference "char: acter D Vwith an exponent corresponding to the location, and comprises a'winding16 connected acrossxthe rails adjacentqthe entrance end of the section, as well asawlndof which: are designated x" and Y. :Each

mg 17 constantly supplied. with alternating current from a suitable source the terminals track relay comprises two; contacts 3 and6',

Whichareswung to the left-handor normal position when the track" Winding 16iis sup"- plied with alternating current of normal relative polarity, and to the right-hand or reverse position" whenthe track rails are supplied Wit ll alternatlngcurrent of reverse relative polarity. -1

' Each track sectionis-[provided with a re-. peater relay designated by thereference'character- E with an exponent corresponding to the location.

trolled by the associated trackrelay D in such Each repeater. relay is conmanner that the repeater relay may become its reverse toits normal position; a I I f Each track section is provided With'a quick Y releasing auxiliary relay designated byfthe ciated track relay is energized in the reverse energized when and only 'when'the -as so-- direction,1b'ut that the repeater'relay when peater relay ;E this relay is provided with provided'with. aholding circuit which passes from terminaliX, through contact 23 in the ably slow re1easing in characteryin order to contact 3 of the track-relay i s'swinging'lfrom reference character F with an exponent corresponding .tothelocation,and-with aslo'wl--' r v y "75 reference character G withrari exponen -Q01): 1-

responding to the location." 'Each' of these releasing. auxiliary relay designated byithe thus energized will remain --energized while r the track "relay is energized 'infthenormalf g direction. Referring, for jexample z-to 1' re- 1 a Ypick up' circuit'which passes fromterniinal throughtrack relay contact '3 in the right? 7 hand or reverse position, and the" winding of relay E to terminal Y. iRelay E .-,is also left-hand or normal positio nfront 0 1mm; 'of'relay E and the windingof relay EB to}"f terminal Y. Each repeater;relay is preferprevent releaselof itsfront contactswhile. characters 1 and l designateithetrack rails; of a stretch of railway track alongwhic'h- .trafiic normally moves, in the directlonindl auxiliary relays is normally tie-energized, but

they-both'become energized when 'a train cntersthe corresponding track sectionaI fi 7i ferr'ing to section "A B for examplei thecircuit for 'relay F fis from terminal through back contact 50f repeatcrrelay E back contact 6 of track: relay D and. the

Windingv y E to teri'ninal Y. fvTheslow releasing auxiliary relay G 'isconnected with the output terminals of a rectifier Ki anid the input, terminals of this rectifier are connectedin multiple with relay F in the circuit fjust traced for thcii latter relay. 'It follows that'when this-circuit isclosed 'relay-G fis'l suppliedfwith unidirectionalcurrent.

When relaysG and. F for a given section rentlissupplied to he rails offthe-section,

and this current is of norinalror reversexrela tive polarity according" as the repeater'relay section A'.B, when relayflE -,is energized,

are bothopen, alternating track -circuit cur"- the primary of transformer T3.

track circuit current is supplied-tothe primary of a track transformer T the circuit being from terminal K, through front point of contact 7 of track relay E back point of contact 9 of-relay G primary of transformer T back point ofcontact 11 of relay F back point of contact 10 of relay G and the front point of contact 8 of relay E to terminal Y When relay E 1s de-energ zed, the circuit is r the same except that it includes the back points of contacts 7 and 8, which contacts operate as a pole-changer, so that current of reverse relative polarity is then supplied to Thesecondary of transformer T is connected across the track rails adjacent the exitflend of-section jA-B, a reactor being interposed between the secondary and one track-rail for the usual purpose of limiting. the current drawn from the transformer when a train stands opposite the-point of connectionofh the secondary with .thelra-ils.

Thepolarity of the track circuits for the adjacent sectionsis reversed. For example, r the; right-hand terminal of. the secondary of transformer TL 18 connected With the upper rail: 1, the: corresponding terminal of the secondary .of transformer T IS-CODIIQC-lfid a with. the lower rail 1*, and the right hand I is connected with-theupperrail l: Similar-1 terminal of the secondary ,of transformer T 1y, theright-hand terminal of winding 16 of relay l)? is connected with the'upper rail "*1,

the rc'orrespondingterminal "of relay -D :-"is connected with the lowerirail 1 and the corresponding terminal ofrelay-l) is connected with the upper rail '1, etc. When terminal isriconnected with the, upperrail; 1' of section B -C, the current in this section is of normal' relative polarity, whereas, when termi- -nal Xsis-connected with thelo'wer rail- 1 in section 'A'i-B, the currentin-the rails of this section is of reverserelative polarity. (In making this statement. the phase-shifting characteristics ofv the track-transformers T are neglected to. simplifywthe explanation.) f Each sectionis provided with a coding device, which i's-desi'gnatedi by thewreference character H with-an exponent. corresponding to -the locationL- Each codingi device com-- prises: an operating. winding118, anditwo contaclts 1 and 15 which-areperiodically closed atdifle-rent rates while the coding: device is in operation. any; suitable type, such, forexample, as that shown in; application 3 for Letters 7 Patent of the United: States filed icy-P: N. Bossart on February'l', 1927, Serial No. 166,407.. The

operatinsrwinding" 18 of each coding device is controlled by a front contact 12 of the associated' auxiliary relay F, the circuit for this operating winding being obvious, from the drawing without explanation. It follows that each coding device is normally at rest,

but is set into operationwhenever the aux-- These. coding: devices may-beef iliary relay F for the associated section becomes energized.

' Assuming for example, that section AB is occupied, so that relays G and F are en'- ergized, the source of trackv circuit current is disconnected from transformer T -by contacts 9,10, and 11, and periodically interrupted train governing current is then supplied to this transformer through contact 14 or 15 of the codin'g device H3I according as relay E is energized or de-energized. Assumingthat..relaylE is energized, "the primary circuit. fortransformer T is from terminal-X, through contact 14 of coding de- I vice H front point of contact 13 of relay.

E front point ofcontact l'l 'of" relay F primary off-transformer T and the front point of contact 9. of relay G to terminal Y. If relay fE is die-energized,- the circuit is the sameas before, except'that it includes contact: 15 of "coding device -I -I '-'and-'back point oficontact l3 of relayE It will be noted that when train governing current is being supplied to section A B terminal X is connect'e'd withf the upper ,rail 1," and terminal; Y is connected with theLlow-er rail 1,

so that the polarity of -this current in the track rails corresponds to track circuit cur. rent of reverse I relativepolarity for the "same section, but "that the polarity-of the train governing] current in the rails of section A-B is the same as thenormal polarityof thetrack circuit current in the rails 'of seotion 3+0. Th'e -resultof-this is, that if sec tion B-l GiS occupied,'and' one or bothof the insulated joints-2- at point B should break down, the 7 train governing;current which would then be supplied to winding 16 of track relay D from transformer T 'would be of normal relatiye polarity, in so+far-as track!relay-D is-concernechso that this relaiy would become" energized in: the 1 normal direct-ion, but relay E would remain deenergized: because. its ciricuit would be open at :its owncontaott Train governingcurrent would continue therefore to be supplied to: the I'EIIlS OfBQCtIOH"A +-B" tl1lOUgl1 the ba'ck point of contact-13' of relax- E such manner i that a: caution. indication-is given aboard thetrain in response to train governing current Whichis supplied through contact 15"0f-eachcodingdevice H3, and a proceed indication is given aboard the train in response'to train governing currentwhich is supplied through con-tact 1d of each coding device I Theoperation oftheapp'aratus as to'l? lows: As showninthe drawing, all sections are unoccupied,.-.so that all}; track re 7 ilays are energized-inthe normal direction,

all repeater relays are. energized, and all auxiliary relays F, andG are Lie-energized. Assuming now that :a trainv enters- ,SECUOII A-B, trackrelay D will become cl e .-ener-' gized, with-the-result thatrepeater relay E will also becomede-energized. Y The closing: 7 of back Contacts 6v and 50f these two relays will cause relaysF and G to become'energized, sothat periodically interrupted train governing-current will be suppliedxto the railsofsection 'A ''B through contact 14 f coding device. H3. The train will therefore receive aproceed-l indication while passing through this section.- When the train passesout of section AB and into section BG,- it will de-energize relays'D 'and'El i' .EThQ' first impulse of train governing .currentto' reach-track relayD iwill be of reverse relai tive polarity, so fthatxthis. relay will be come energizedin thereversedireetiou, and

- so will cause itsrepeater'relay- E to become energized. Theg'opening of back contactso andf5of these-r-two relays will-'de-energize relays F and fG gfsotha-t lthefisupply of ,train g0verning. ;.,ci 1rrent will be: discontinued. Track circuit currentgof reverse relative polarity 'willlthen be supplied to the relay G, is as follows 'Assuming, for example,

that relay GB wereoinitted, and'thata-train should enter section andishould then back out of this section, track circuit current of reverse relative polarity'would immediately be suppliedto the railsof the section,

so that track relay D vvouldf become energized in the reverse-direction; The opening of back contact 6 ofrelay D wouldde-energize relay: F3 andthis'relay would 'connect track circuit current 'ofanormal relative po- 7 larity' to the rails over theifront points of contacts-7 and 8- of vrelay E HfR elayxD tive polarity over coder contact l l." As's'oon as back contact 6 of relay D opens, relay F would, therefore, close its-reverse contact and again open it so quicklyfthat relay E would not have time toclose; Withth'e cir cuit as shown, when thetrain-backs out of section AB, the rails of this section will first receive track clrcult current of reverse relawill become de-energized, and'th'e, front point of contact 11 of this relay will cut oil the current of reverse relativepolarity while'the back point of contact l'lwill supply steady v energy, of reverse relative polarity to the V railsover the front'point of contact ofre- 1 v V lay G as long as, the latter relayremains closed. WVhen-relay G opens, steady track circuit currentwot-jn0rmal relative polarity; Will be supplied, to the rails overthe back points of contacts- 9 and lOand-the. front points of-contacts 7 -and;8- of relay E i, Thus relayfG will continueto supply gtrackcir-j cuit current of reverse relative polarity for a period? long venough 'to,.-permi't..zrelaye-mp cause relayEf to become energized over con:

tact 3 in thereverse'position;

, Each section is provided with a signaldese ig'nated; by the reference character, S with an exponent; correspondingto the location.

Thesersignalsmay be controlled intheusual 1 l manner by theassociated relaysD. andE, but I inasmuch as the control of thesesignals forms no part 'ofmy present invention, I-'have omittedt'he circuits in orderto simplify the draw- V I r {Although I have h'ereinyshownland d e-c Q scribed onlyeone forin ofapparatus embodye' ing myinvention, it is understoodv that various changes'and modifications may"be',made V claimswithout departing from the i i p p "595 aving thus described; inventiomiwh y scope/of my invention. j r

I claim is:

1.' In combination, ,a stretch of; railway 1 track divided into sectionsyatrackcircuit for each section including asource oftrack circuit currentzreversibly connected with the IZLllS'Of the section and a trackrelay 'respon- 'SIVestO reversals of current, a repeater relay for each section, means for energizing each 1 p a repeater: relay when and only when the .asso-,

ciated track relay is energized, in reverse direetion and forsubsequently keeping the re-' I Jpeater relay energized when the track relay becomes energizedinnormal direction, and

means .c ontrolled by each repeater relay for therein within the: scope ofithe appended I aim V supplying ,to therails'of. the associated sectiontrain' governing current of such 'characr teristicasto giveialessrestrictive'or'a more restrictiveindication accordingas the;re'--. I i 1-15 q V peaterfrelay-fis e'nergizedor de-energized, the relative polarlty ofthe train governing ourthe section inadvance of such joint becomes energized by train controlcurrent from the l rent ineach section being the same as that of the track 'clrcuitccurrent norma'llyf supplied V to the section next v1n advance, so'that if an insulated jointfails and the'track'relay for i i section in therear while the advance section is occupied, the repeater relay for the rear section will remain (la-energized and the more restrictiveindication will beflgiven inv the rear section. p p

2; In combination, 'a'lstretc'h ofrailway track divided into sections, a'track eircuit for eachsection including a track relay responsive to} the relative polarity of the current in the rails of the section, a repeater relay for each sectiongmeansfor'energizing each'repeater relayw h'en and only when the associated track relay isenergized in the reverse direction and for subsequently keeping therepea'ter relay energizedivhen thetracl: relay is energized in the normat direction means for sun 1 i11 J J. D

eacli hlock With'traokcircuit current of nor mal 'or reverse relative polarity accordingas there'pca 'fcr" relay energized or de-energized, andmeanscontrolled byieach repeater relay forsupplyingto the rails of the associated section trainigoverning current of such section. l

'3. In combination, a stretch of railwaytrackkdivided into'isections, aatrack circuit for each section including a source of track C11- cuitcurrent reve'rslbly connected: with the rails of'the section anda track relay responsive to reversals of current, a. repeater relay for each section, a. pick-up circuit for each repeater relay'inclu'din g a reverse contact of the associatedtrack relay, a holding circuit for each repeater relay including a normal contact of the associated track relay and a front contact'of the repeater relay, and'means controlled by eachfrepeater relay for supplying to the railsof the associatedsection train governa 7 ing currentiof suchcharacteristic as to give a less restrictive or amore restrictive indication according as the repeater relay is energized or de-energized; the 'relative "polarity of the train governing current ineach-section being the sam'eas-that of ther al; t'

current' normally supplied tothe section nextinvadvance, s-othat it an insulated omt falls and the track relay for the section in advance'iof such joint becomes energized by train control current from the section in the reanWhile-the advance sectlon 1s occupled, the repeater relay for the rear section will remain de-energized and the more restrictive indication will be given in the rear section.

1 4; In" combination, a stretch of railway track divided into sections, a track circuit for each section" including a track relay responsive to the relative polarity of the current in the rails of the section, a repeater relay for each section, a pickup circuit for each repeater: relayincluding a reverse contact of 'be given inthe rear sectionzzthe associatedtrackrelay, a- -holding circuit train governing currentin each section being.-

the same as that of the track circuit current normally supplied to the section next in advance, so that if aninsulated joint fails and the track relay for the section in advance of' such'joint becomes energized by train 0011-;

trolcurrent'from the sectionfin the rear While the advance section is oc'cupied, the-repeater relay for the rear section will remain de-energlzed-and the more restrictive indication .Wlll.

5.: In combinatiomla stretch of railvvay track divided into 's'ections,:ai tra'ck relay (for each section responsive tothe' relative polarity. of the current in the rails of thesection, a repeater relay 'for each section,- means for energizing each repeater -.relay*when and only'whenthe associated track relay is energized in the reverse direction andfor subse, quently keepingthe'repeater relay energized When the track relay is energized in the normal direction,-a "quick releasing auxiliary relay and a slow releasing auxiliary relay for each section both-of Whi'ch'Iarenormally deenergized, means operating: when :the track relay and repeater relay for a given section arede energized-to energize both of saida'uxiliary relays forthe same section, means op-- erating When said auxiliary relays are both open *to'supply the railsfof' the associated section 'vvithtr'ack circuitcurrent of I norcmalxor reverse relative polarity according as the 'repeaterrelay for -the section next. :in

advances isenergized or deenergized', means operatingl'vvhen' the auxiliary relays fora given sectionare closed to ,disconnect'the source of track circuit-current from the rails of- -t'he section and to 1 supply sa-id rails with periodically interruptedatrain governing current hav'i'ngthe same polarity as that of the track circuit current normally supplied to the section next in advance, and means "operating When the quick releasing relay is for a given section is open and ,theassociated slow releasing relay is closed tosupply the rails of the section Withcurrentof reverse relative polarity; 1 V

Intestimony whereof Iaftix my signature.

w HOWARD A THOMPSON) 

